Gut Health Tops Nutrition Trends for 2018

January 2, 2018

Specialtyfood.com

Fermented foods ousted seeds as the No. 1 superfood for 2018, according to Pollock Communications' and Today's Dietitian's survey of registered dietitian nutritionists.

The rise of fermented foods, such as yogurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, tempeh, some pickles, kimchi and miso, signal that consumers in the coming year will move towards clean, natural, and simple foods as they seek options that improve gut health and overall well-being.

Rounding out the Top 10 superfoods for 2018 are avocado, seeds, nuts, green tea, ancient grains, kale, exotic fruits, coconut products, and salmon. The survey also revealed that clean eating, plant-based and ketogenic are “in” as diet trends for 2018, while low-fat, dash, and wheat belly are out.

"The movement toward clean eating reflects a change in how consumers view food," notes Jenna A. Bell, PhD, RD, SVP of Pollock Communications. "Consumers are searching for nutrition information and equating diet with overall well-being." As an example, Bell points out that the quick rise of fermented foods in the top 10 superfood list shows that consumers have expanded their definition of wellness to include benefits like gut health. "It also suggests that consumers are digging deeper for information about the food they eat and in this instance, finding out why yogurt, kefir or kimchi is so good for them."